ASHFORD, urban district, Kent, England, 56 m. S.E. of London by the Southern railway. Population (1931) 15,239. It lies on a slight hill in the plains under the Downs near the con fluence of the upper branches of the River Stour, and is a con siderable road and rail centre. Ashford (Esselesford, Asshatis forde, Essheford) was held at the time of Domesday by Hugh de Montfort. A Saturday market and an annual fair were granted to the lord of the manor in the 13th century, and further annual fairs were granted by Edward III. and Edward IV. The fertility of the pasture land in Romney marsh to the south caused the cattle trade to increase from the latter half of the 18th century, and a stock market was established in 1784.
The fine Perpendicular church (St. Mary's) has a lofty tower and many interesting monuments. At Bethersden, between Ash ford and Tenterden, marble quarries were formerly worked extensively, supplying stone for the cathedrals of Canterbury and Rochester and for many local churches. Ashford has agricultural implement works and breweries; and the large locomotive and carriage works of the Southern railway (South-Eastern and Chatham section) are here.
On the south-east outskirts of Ashford is the large village of Willesborough, with a population of 4,748.